Let’s Celebrate National CleanUp Day & World Cleanup Day!

Recently, National CleanUp Day has announced its return on September 21 and World Cleanup Day on September 19.

The outdoors are a wonderful activity for those who enjoy hiking, walking and climbing. Like many beautiful places to visit, Asheville offers a vibrant art scene, historic architecture, and nightlife downtown that is surrounded by North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Wherever you are hiking Black Mountain, or strolling through the main street, seeing piles of litter and trash can ruin the experience and negatively affect the environment. This year, Asheville residents and visitors who cherish the outdoors can come together to help clean up trails, parks, and communal spaces. Two green holidays, National CleanUp Day and World Cleanup Day encourage people to make an effort to reduce litter and recycle. Asheville’s city and nature deserve to remain clean and devoid of our ecological footprint. Continue reading →

Sometimes people are surprised how willingly my 9 year-old does the dishes and takes out the trash and when I think about it I too am surprised he does these things, given that he would rather focus on Legos than anything else on earth.
BUT! I know the reason is that I started prepping him early. I made vacuuming seem fun when he was a toddler and gave BIG praise for it. Toddler spills I asked him to clean up. Sometimes this worked, sometimes it backfired. But I let him know early on that he would be part of how we keep this house clean.
At age 8 I started him on dishes. It was a big struggle. Months-long investment. Frustration over how to load the dishwasher and how he was getting too much water on himself. We made it a game sometimes or sometimes I would simply ignore the moans and tell him to “figure it out”.
Now at age 9 there is not an issue. 1-2x per day that boy gets up unloads, loads, puts the soap in and starts the dishes. Trash goes out along with compost and recycling with no problems.
And even as of late he notices how much BETTER a clean home feels!
In between big house cleans those little bits of upkeep can be vital to how your day flows and whether or not you feel overwhelmed.
When you have kids making messes faster than you can clean them up, even if you follow behind them all day, having a helping hand from those monsters is a good feeling.
I think no age is too young to get them started. Ok, maybe no younger than two. But, at two put a spray bottle of vinegar mixed with water in their hands and have them clean the streaks off the windows. Next, fill the sink with soapy water and the safest of your dishes and let them feel the satisfaction of removing sticky grimy grease!
It can be done! And it is worth it in the long run!

This is a time when we need as much stress relief as possible. The constant negativity from the news and not knowing what is going to happen with schools and families far away wears on us. Too much going on, not enough relief. It can be suffocating. 
At Asheville Cleaning Company one thing that we value as colleagues is helping each other with work loads and positive language. It is vital now more than ever to look out for each other when so many are lacking a close community. 
Being kind to each other leaves us with a warm feeling inside. We should show that kindness to ourselves as well.
This can take many forms. Sometimes a daily break with a warm cup of tea, soothing music and meditation. Exercise and walking in the sunshine helps your body rid itself of the stress hormones we are building up in our bodies. Allowing the stress to fester can do damage over time and daily walks have shown to help fight depression. 
At Asheville Cleaning Company we are happy that we can be part of another way to ease stress. Having a clean space not only allows yourself one less thing to do but being in a space that feels comfortable and not like a burden does wonders on our outlook. 
Whether you take some quiet time for yourself, increase your exercise or hire professional cleaners (or all of the above!) now is an important time to allow yourself some ease of burdens and let a little more joy in!

 

 

It is one of the best times of the year in the Asheville area. Spring is here and with it an array of beautiful colors and smells. We have enjoyed a few rounds of snow showers this winter, not it is time to get outside and enjoy mild temperatures and incredible views.

Your pets are likely loving the season as well. Rather than making quick trips outside while braving the chill, they are able to run and play. Your dog may sprint full speed into a field of wildflowers, while your cat may lounge in the sun of a flower bed. Continue reading →

When you suffer from allergies, you often try to limit your contact with the outdoors – pollen can be a nightmare for some folks! But did you know that the quality of your indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than even the worst outdoor air? According to the EPA, indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental dangers, and if you have allergies, the problem is compounded. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to clear the air and breathe easier. Continue reading →